Richardson declares state of disaster

CLOVIS, N.M. - Gov. Bill Richardson signed an executive order Sunday, freeing up $750,000 in state emergency funds for three New Mexico counties devastated by tornadoes.

At least 16 tornadoes swept through communities along the New Mexico-Texas border late Friday, damaging homes, roads and businesses, and snapping power lines.

The worst damage was reported in Clovis and the village of Logan about 80 miles to the north, state officials said.

The disaster declaration for Curry, Quay and Roosevelt counties will cover overtime wages for emergency responders and will help restore roads and power lines, the governor said.

Richardson got a firsthand look at the damage Sunday as he toured a southeast Clovis neighborhood, talking with dozens of residents, assuring them help was on the way.

"The damage is devastating to these neighborhoods, especially for families with no insurance," Richardson said. "The state funding I authorized will help this community to rebuild. And I promised to work hard to convince the federal government to step up to the plate and help individual homes and business owners start over."

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is scheduled to begin working with state officials Tuesday to conduct a joint damage assessment, Richardson said.

FEMA can assist people displaced following a disaster, but certain thresholds of damage first must be met, officials said.

Initial assessments show 458 homes were damaged in Clovis and 55 in Logan, state officials said.